Packaging unit

ABSTRACT

A packaging unit has a container closed by a safety plug which has a maximum diameter equal to the outer diameter of the container opening and a smooth exterior to avoid any gripping surface. A cylindrical lip adjacent to the peripheral edge of the plug cooperates with the inner surface of the container opening to seal the opening. A slide is movable along a radial direction of the plug to extend beyond the edge of the container opening to provide a gripping surface for removing the plug. Safety detents may be provided which must be manipulated to permit movement of the slide.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a packaging unit which prevents or restrictsaccess to the contents. Such packaging units are widely used formedicinal preparations, paints, varnishes, cleansing agents, rustremoval agents and the like. These units generally include a containerhaving a closure or plug which is designed to be difficult to open orremove. The closure or plug is often termed "safety closures" or "safetyplugs", and inasmuch as primarily children make up the group of peopleto whom unwarranted opening is to be denied, they are often called"childproof closures".

A known design for a safety closure consists essentially of an internalcylinder provided with a sealing lip or bead and a flange-likecontinuation of the cylinder which mounts on the edge of the containeropening. If desired, a retaining means for the contents may be providedwhich projects into the interior of the container.

An object of the invention is to provide a packaging unit with a safetyclosure which is simple and cheap to produce and which can be filled andsealed on standard automated packing lines such as are in existence inindustry, and in the pharmaceutical industry in particular, without theneed for significant modification.

This object is attained by the present invention in which a flange-likepart of the safety closure projecting above the edge of the containeropening has a maximum external diameter equal to the external diameterof the opening and tapers from the edge of the opening to the center sothat no grippable peripheral area is provided and in which a slide ismounted in a flange-like part of the closure to move radially to providea surface which may be used to remove the closure from the opening.

The invention is described in greater detail by means of exampleembodiments and reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through a packaging unit according tothe invention, in the area of the container opening.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the unit shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view, partly cut away, of the slide shown in FIGS. 1and 2.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section through a modified embodiment of thepackaging unit.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the unit shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side view, partly cut away, of the slide shown in FIGS. 4and 5.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a third embodiment of a safety closure accordingto the invention (without slide).

FIG. 8 is a top view of the slide for the embodiment of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal section through the unit shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal section through the slide shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a section along line XI--XI in FIG. 9, with the slideinserted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Only the upper part of the container 2 of the packaging unit directlyadjoining the mouth or opening 1 is shown in the embodimentsexemplifying the invention. The exterior surface of the container 2adjacent to the opening 1 is free of any radial projections orprotruberences.

The safety closure, or plug, generally designated as 3, includes aninternal cylinder 5 provided with sealing means in the form of a torus4, and a flange-like part 7 projecting above the edge 6 of theopening 1. The maximum external diameter of the flange-like part 7, asshown in FIGS. 1 through 6, is equal to the external diameter of thecontainer 2 at the opening 1, and the thickness decreases in thedirection away from the centerline M so that a sloped surface 8 isformed, (tapered in cross section), with the result that no peripheralsurface is created which can be gripped for removal of the plug, forwhich reason the container cannot be readily opened.

Another internal cylinder 9 in the safety closure 3 can accommodate acontents retaining means in the form of a bellows 10.

Opening of the container is made possible by a slide 11 which can bedisplaced radially so that a portion extends over the outer edge of theopening 1 (FIGS. 1 through 3), 12 (FIGS. 4 through 6) or 22 (FIGS. 7 And11) to permit removal of the safety closure 3.

The slide 11 is movably mmounted in a slot 13 provided within the safetyclosure 3, and the outer end portion 14 of the slide is accessible fromabove, making it possible to move the slide in the direction of arrowsA, from the closed position (solid lines, FIG. 2) to the open position(broken lines, FIG. 2) or to return it to the closed position. Tofacilitate this movement, the outer end portion 14 of the slide 11 isprovided with an indentation or recessed portion 15 into which the usercan insert a fingernail.

Complete withdrawal of the slide 11 is prevented by lateral projections16 acting in conjunction with a lateral extension 17 of the slot 13. Aslot 18, in the form of a circular sector, in the sloped surface 8 isprovided for the insertion of the slide 11 into the slot 13 duringmanufacture of the safety closure 3. The slide 11, like the closure 3,is preferably made of a plastic material, and being flexible can be bentslightly until its projections 16 are locked in the extension 17.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 differs from that shown in FIGS.1-3 primarily in that the slide 12 is not mounted in a closed slot, butis mounted in an open groove 19 having a cross-sectional shape of aswallowtail. The cross section of the slide 12 is accordingly notrectangular, as in the case of the slide 11 (see FIG. 1), but rather, asshown in FIG. 4, is adapted to the shape of this groove. The lateralprojections 16 on the slide 12 and the lateral extension 17 of thegroove 19, by means of which accidental complete withdrawal of the slidefrom the groove is prevented, are present in this embodiment as well.

As indicated by broken lines in FIGS. 2, the portion of the slide 11projecting beyond the flange-like part 7 forms a handle which makes itpossible to lift the closure 3 upward and at the same time to overcomean undercut 20 on the inner surface 21 of the container 2, adjacent tothe opening 1. This is true also for the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-6.

An especially childproof and thus preferable embodiment of the inventionis illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 10. The slide 22 in this case has aT-shaped cross section, for example, and is mounted in a groove 23 ofcorresponding shape. The depth of the groove 23 is greater in the rearor inner area 24 of the groove than in the forward or peripheral edgearea. Groove 23 is provided with lateral undercuts 25 which correspondto the T-arm of the groove, to receive the corresponding projections 26of the slide 22. The depth of the undercuts 25, which is greater in thearea 24 of the groove than in the forward area, is reduced toapproximately the depth present in the forward part of the undercuts bystrips 27 projecting downward into the undercuts.

Working in conjunction with the strips 27 are slots 28 in the lateralprojections 26 of the slide 22, into which slots the strips 27 projectwhen the slide 22 is fully inserted to block withdrawal of the slideinto the open position indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 2. Suchwithdrawal is possible only when the rear part 30 of the slide 22,marked by an indentation 29, is pressed downward into the deeper reararea 24, to free the slots 28 from engagement with the strips 27 byelastically deforming the slide. The elastic deformation of the slide 22is facilitated by a transverse groove 31 in the bottom surface 32 of theslide. After the part 30 of the slide 22 has been depressed, it is thenpossible to pull the slide into its outer position.

Complete withdrawl of the slide 22 from the groove 23, in thisembodiment is prevented by a lip 33 projecting from the bottom surface32 of the slide. When the slide 22 is withdrawn, the lip 33 strikesagainst a step 34 in an indentation 35 in the groove 23 to preventfurther movement of the slide.

An additional safety feature impeding undesired opening of the packagingunit is illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11. It is to be understood that thisfeature can also be provided in the embodiments discussed above. Asshown in the drawings, the flange-like part 7 of the safety closure 3projecting above the edge of the filling hole 1 has an external diameterwhich is slightly smaller than that of the container opening and engagesan annular recess 36 in the lip of the container. This feature preventsinsertion of a flat object, such as the blade of a knife or ascrewdriver, into the gap between the upper edge 6 of the container andthe bottom annular surface of part 7 mounted on this upper edge in theembodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6 and prying the safetyclosure 3 out of the container 2.

It is understood that stop means similar to the lateral projections 16and extensions 17 shown in the embodiment of FIG. 5, could besubstituted for the cooperating lip 33, step 34 and indentation 35illustrated in FIGS. 7-11, and vice versa.

Of course variations of the specific construction and arrangement of thesafety packaging unit disclosed above can be made by those skilled inthe art without departing from the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

I claim:
 1. A packaging unit having a container with a filling opening,the exterior surface of the container adjacent to said opening beingfree of any protuberances, and a removal-resistant closure closing saidopening, said closure comprising:means cooperating with said opening toretain said closure on the container; a substantially smooth, slopedexterior surface on the peripheral portion adjacent to the periphery ofsaid opening, the maximum dimensional extent of said closure beingsubstantially equal to the exterior dimensional extent of the containerat said opening, the dimensional extent and smooth, sloped exteriorsurface cooperating to avoid any surface which is useful in removingsaid closure; a slidable closure removal assisting member on saidclosure adapted to be displaced from a first position wherein saidmember is positioned within the peripheral confines of said closure, toa second position wherein a portion of said member extends beyond theperiphery of said closure to provide a surface against which a force isapplied to remove said closure; stop means on said closure; and coactingmeans on said slidable member cooperating with said stop means toprevent removal of said member from said closure.
 2. A packaging unit asdefined in claim 1, wherein the interior surface of the container has anannular recessed portion adjacent to the filling opening and saidretaining means on the closure comprises an annular portion receivedwithin the container opening and an exterior projecting friction surfaceon said annular portion, said friction surface and said recessed portioncooperating to retain the closure on the container.
 3. A packaging unitas defined in claim 1, wherein the dimensional extent of said closure isslightly less than the exterior dimensional extent of said opening, theperiphery of said closure being received in a peripheral recess providedin said container opening.
 4. A packaging unit as defined in claim 1,wherein said member is slidably movable within guide means provided insaid closure and said member is further provided on its exterior surfacewith an engagement surface to which a displacement force may be appliedto slidably move said member.
 5. A packaging unit as defined in claim 4,wherein said guide means includes spaced, parallel channels having stopmeans at one end and laterally-extending tabs on an end portion of saidmember are slideably received within said channels, said tabs coactingwith the stop means in said channels to define said second position ofsaid member.
 6. A packaging unit as defined in claim 4, wherein saidguide means includes spaced, parallel channels and lateral projectionson said member are slideably received within said channels, and furthercomprising means on said closure and on said slide which cooperate todefine said first and said second positions of said member.
 7. Apackaging unit as defined in claim 6, wherein said position definingmeans includes:a projection at one end portion of said channel,extending toward the inner surface of said closure; an indentation insaid closure, disposed between said channels; a notch in one of saidlateral projections of said member, said notch being located to receivesaid projection with said member in said first position, said projectionand said notch cooperating to maintain said member in said firstposition; and a pendent element on the inner surface of said memberwhich cooperates with said indentation to stop said member in saidsecond position and to prevent removal of said member.
 8. A packagingunit as defined in claim 7, further comprising release means selectivelyoperable to release said member for movement from said first position tosaid second position.
 9. A packaging unit as defined in claim 8, whereinthe depth of said channel in the region of said projection is greaterthan the height of said projection to provide a clearance beneath saidprojection, and said member is adapted to be depressed to place saidnotch within said clearance, thereby releasing said notch fromrestraining engagement with said projection and permitting said memberto be moved to said second position.
 10. A packaging unit as defined inclaim 9, further comprising a transverse groove on the inner surface ofsaid member, intermediate its end portions, to enhance the deflectionflexibility of said member.
 11. A packaging unit as defined in claim 1,further comprising means supported from the inner surface of saidclosure for immobilizing contact with the contents of said containerwith said closure closing said opening.
 12. A removal-resistant closurefor application to a container to close the container opening,comprising:a tubular portion receivable within the container openinghaving an exterior projecting surface cooperating with the wall of thecontainer opening to retain the closure on the container; a slidableremoval assisting member on said closure adapted to be displaced from afirst position wherein said member is positioned within the peripheralconfines of said closure, to a second position wherein a portion of saidmember extends beyond the periphery of said closure to provide a surfaceagainst which a force may be applied to remove said closure; stop meanson said closure; and coacting means on said slidable member cooperatingwith said stop means to prevent removal of said member from saidclosure.
 13. A closure as defined in claim 12, wherein said member isslidablly movable within guide means provided in said closure and saidmember is further provided on its exterior surface with an engagementsurface to which displacement force may be applied to slidably move saidmember.
 14. A closure as defined in claim 13, wherein said guide meansincludes spaced, parallel channels having stop means at one end andlaterally-extending tabs on an end portion of said member are slideablyreceived within said channels, said tabs coacting with the stop means ofsaid channels to define said second position of said member.
 15. Aclosure as defined in claim 13, wherein said guide means includesspaced, parallel channels and lateral projections on said member areslideably received within said channels and further comprising means onsaid closure on said slide which cooperate to define said first and saidsecond positions of said member.
 16. A closure as defined in claim 15,wherein said position defining means includes:a projection at one endportion of said channel, extending toward the inner surface of saidclosure; an indentation in said closure, disposed between said channels;a notch in one of said lateral projections of said member, said notchbeing located to receive said projection with said member in said firstposition, said projection and said notch cooperating to maintain saidmember in said first position; and a pendent element on the innersurface of said member which cooperates with said indentation to stopsaid member in said second position and to prevent removal of saidmember.
 17. A closure as defined in claim 16, further comprising releasemeans selectively operable to release said member for movement from saidfirst position to said second position.
 18. A closure as defined inclaim 17, wherein the depth of said channel in the region of saidprojection is greater than the height of said projection to provide aclearance beneath said projection, and said member is adapted to bedepressed to place said notch within said clearance, thereby releasingsaid notch from restraining engagement with said projection andpermitting said memberf to be moved to said second position.
 19. Aclosure as defined in claim 18, further comprising a transverse grooveon the inner surface of said member, intermediate its end portions, toenhance the deflection flexibility of said member.
 20. A closure asdefined in any of claims 12-19, wherein the exterior surface of theclosure adjacent to the periphery is sloped to the edge of the closureand the maximum dimensional extent of the closure is substantially equalto the exterior dimensional extent of the container at the opening, thedimensional extent and smooth, sloped exterior surface cooperating toavoid any surface which is useful in removing the closure from thecontainer opening.